⭐️: 4.5
🌶️: 1

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and Christina Dodd for sending me an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Has this series become part of my personality? Yes. Yes it has. Have I already purchased both the first and second book in signed hardcover? Mind your business. Am I devastated the novellas are only available via ebook and can’t get them on my shelves?! I’m too sad to confirm or deny that.

But back to the book! I will admit, I’m not the biggest fan of Shakespeare. Look. I know. That’s probably sacrilege but I had a couple drama and English teachers growing up that kinda left a bad taste in my mouth about it. So I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this book. But the cover and the synopsis caught my eye and when I was approved I figured, why not?

I can’t say enough good things about this series/book. The writing style is just plain fun. It’s a mix of Shakespearean vibes with some more modern flourishes. The narrator is fantastic and really gave life to Rosie’s inner monologue. (I’m very tempted to buy the audio versions too of these books. Sigh. Such a fan girl…) And the characters are well flushed out including each other children and the side characters. Nurse in particular is rather formidable and I would love to have her at my side any day.

I love the world Dodd has created and I’m waiting impatiently for the next novella to be released in a couple of months. I’m not sure when the next full book will come out but I can’t wait for the wedding! And the honeymoon! And Rose putting the prince in his place while he keeps her on her toes. I absolutely adore their dynamic and am still thinking about those last couple of chapters days later.

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook as an ARC from NetGalley and RBMedia in exchange for an honest review.

I bumped my rating up to three stars because I didn’t read the first book and I’m likely not the target audience. I think I missed some character dynamics that would’ve made the story more engaging. The pacing felt slow, and while I was almost interested in the plot and characters, things just didn’t quite land for me.

The subplots felt a little disconnected, and the love triangle was hard to follow at first - mostly because I wasn’t sure how the main character actually felt. But by the end, I realized that ambiguity was probably intentional, which helped it make more sense.

The ending was cute, and while this book didn’t fully work for me, readers who started with book one may have a different experience.

I did not expect to be as hooked to this story as I found myself to be. I greatly enjoyed it. What a great re-telling of the Romeo and Juliet life, through the adventures of their daughter. I love that they have so many kids. I listened to this all in the same day. The narrator was captivating. I enjoyed that the speak was authentic to the time at points but also more recent which made it easier to digest and pay attention to. The Ghost of the prince's father added a lot to this story and was great fun. I will recommend this one.

It was my first ARC ever and I was very happy to start. I got an audiobook version. I liked the theme of the story so much and the AU thing where Romeo and Juliet had a family instead of the known ending to their relationship was amazing.

Before I started this one I bought the first book and read it and I wasn't disappointed. I loved the setting and Rosie's character development. The murder and thriller vibes kept me on my toes to finish it. it was an extraordinary experience.💕

I recommend this book (well, Daughter of Fair Verona first) to almost any and every reader. Like the first, this had adventure, romance-ish, mystery, humor, hidden (and no-so-hidden) Shakespeare references, strong FMC, historical (not believably, but in a fun way), easily consumable, and right vs. wrong theme. Not since Princess Bride have I had a story so full of everything that is done well.

There was less intrigue in this book and that overwhelming sense of danger, making it a little more lighthearted, but still Rosie had a mystery to solve. I'm wishy-washy on whether or not I like Rosie talking to a ghost no one else can see, but it did have a Hamlet ring to it. My feelings about Rosie and Escalus are very strong, and not at all how I thought they'd be, so that's a surprise. We'll see how this all pans out.

I cannot wait until the next book!!

magine what would have happened if Romeo and Juliet didn’t actually die as in Shakespeare’s classic play. Imagine that they lived and went on with their regular lives. Christina Dodd’s series, Daughters of Montague, is written with that premise, and Thus with a Kiss I Die , is the second book in the series. Romeo & Juliet’s daughter Rosie, is 20 years old and is in love with Lysander, of the House of Beautiful. However, Escalus, the Prince of Verona tricks her and she ends up betrothed to him. She makes a deal with Escalus’ father’s ghost, who appears to her and asks her to solve his murder; the deal is that she won’t have to marry his son if she exposes the murderer. Rosie works hard to find the murderer, and also to change things in the castle of Escalus just in case she ends up being the mistress of the house.

The story takes place in Verona, and during the time of Romeo & Juliet. It is essentially a farcical tale and is supposed to be humorous. While the story is light, the author tries too hard to make readers laugh, and for some, it falls flat. She does, however, do a good job of developing the characters. They are not as romantic and believable as those in the original Shakespeare play, but they are sufficient to move the story along.

For those who choose to listen to an audio Book rather than read, the narrator does an okay job, but mispronounces several words wrong – it’s unknown if that is by design because of the time period, or because she doesn’t really know how the words are supposed to be pronounced.

All told, this is a light cozy, a bit humorous, and fast moving. It is suitable for all ages and will make readers look at the classic play differently.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet", but Rosey Montague is not as sweet as her famed mother who said that line. Yes, I said mother. In Daughter of Fair Verona, Christina Dodd created a historical romcom sequel to the Shakespearean tragedy. In this retelling Romeo and Juliet lived happily ever after and went on to have several children. Their firstborn, Rosaline Montague wishes for true love just like her parents and has managed to avoid several arranged betrothals, until now. In the first novel, she sidesteps an unwanted suiter, but then must step in to try and solve his murder. Once again Rosy finds herself in a betrothal to the wrong man and and a murder mystery to solve. This time the prince's ghost asks Rosy to find his killer! Rosy narrates the story with modern language, but the juxtaposition just adds to the humor. There are Shakespeare jokes and references, plus the humor of a modern temperament in an ancient realm. The mysteries are not intricate, but the rom-com element is fantastic. As a second novel, the author could add depth to the characters especially Rosie, who had a lot of character growth. I had a blast listening to this audiobook. Suzy Jackson is a versatile actress who provides a variety of character voices with style. This genre blend story is a potion of pure delight. If you love historical fiction, cozy mysteries, sweet romance, rom-com, retellings or Shakespeare, you will love this series!

I love the quick wit of Rosie and the atmosphere of these novels. The banter is great and the family dynamics brings a coziness and loviness to the story.

Love this series! It is so different than anything else that I am reading - thrillers, romance, contemporary fiction etc. It just is different and fun and refreshing. Great characters.

Book two in a series, Romeo and Juliet’s oldest daughter, Rosie, a fun take on the original. It was witty and fun with a mystery to solve. Although I didn’t read the first book, I found to get into this book since the start, but reading the first is best for the experience.

4.5 stars! ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for this wonderfully fun ARC audiobook!

I enjoyed this book so much! I listened to the audio and read along on my kindle. The audio was wonderful by the way!

This is the story of one of Romeo and Juliet’s daughters, Rosy. She is accidentally scandalized by the prince (he on purpose) instead of her one true love. So she is immediately betrothed to him. Throughout the story, we follow Rosy on a little adventure of getting to know her betroths family, including his ghostly father who tasks her with finding his murderer.

I really loved this book and already loved the author from her historical romances. It was fun, fluffy, lighthearted with a blend of Romeo and Juliet- ish times but also mixed with some contemporary dialogue and entertainment. The cozy little ghostly mystery was wonderful too.

My only (small, very small) complaint was the ending. It seemed to end abruptly and I really wanted to see how Rosy and her “husband” got on in the future.

I have been curious about this series for a while, and when I saw this ARC I decided it was time to check it out. This series is probably really polarizing in some Shakespeare-loving circles, but I enjoyed it a lot. I'm more of a mystery fan than a romance fan, and there is a chunk of romance in here, but the characters were consistent and did things other than swoon or scorn at each other, So, in all, good book. Probably will look at book one at some point, though my patience for Lysander was extremely limited.

I’m having so much fun with this Shakespeare-inspired series; book two was just as delightful as the first.

Rosie Montague, that would be “the” Romeo and Juliet’s daughter (yes, they lived), is now twenty and in love with Lysander, but their union was not meant to be because the Prince of Verona has set his sights on Rosie. But Rosie may have a way out, and it’s in the form of a ghost, who also happens to be her soon-to-be father-in-law.

Just as in the first book, the characters in this series are the true stars, bringing the story to life in a reimagined Shakespearean world. Their witty banter and occasional silliness drew me in as I became lost in their world. I loved how references to other Shakespearean plays and characters were seamlessly dropped in throughout the narrative.

Seeing Romeo and Juliet in a new light, as an 'old' married couple and parents, was so charming and imaginative. And their daughter, full of fire and sass, was a character I couldn’t help but root for. The addition of Rosie's murder-solving adventures and the paranormal element adds an extra layer of entertainment, and of course, there’s a touch of romance that kept me hooked.

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦.


🎧 I paired my reading with listening to the audiobook. Suzy Jackson’s narration was on point; I felt she embodied Rosie, and I felt it was a fabulous production.

Thank you @christinadoddbooks @uplitreads and @kensingtonbooks for these gifted books.
Thank you @recordedbooks #rbmedia for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley.

4.5 stars

I liked this one even more than the first book. Such fun dialogue and character interactions!
I don't really understand the draw of Lysander but maybe that's just my millennial old age talking XD A believable "which guy will she end up with" scenario.
The ending petered out for me a little bit, so it misses the five star mark.

Audio was fantastic! Narration was superb.

Here is the second installment of Christina Dodd’s Romeo and Juliet retelling series! Rosie, the oldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet, has found herself engaged to the prince of Verona even though she’s in love with Lysander. She is willing to accept her fate when she sees the ghost of her betrothed’s father and he tasks her with finding his assassin. In exchange he will help her out of the engagement. And true to Shakespeare, hijinks ensues…

While I did enjoy this book I felt like it fell a little flat for me at times. The mystery didn’t seem to be as strong. Loved the banter between Rosie and Cal. And loved the “hamlet” nod that was added. The narrator did a great job as always! Would recommend this for an enjoyable and light hearted read! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

When I first saw this book on netgalley and read the synopsis in Netgalley I thought to myself "this has to be real fun" and although it was, it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. I also didn't know that it was the second book in a series, but it didn't afect my understanding of this book.

In this story we meet Rosie, the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. She is in love with a guy named Lysander, however she ends up engaged with the prince of Verona, Escalus. Escalus's father Escalus the Elder was murdered and his ghost is hunting Rosie (apparently he can only appear in front of his daugther-in-law) begging her to find his murderer, in exchange for that he promises her to end up her betrothal to his son.

I think that the book is quite funny but sometimes the mistery part of the book seems a little left behind.

Following Rosie's footsteps from book 1, she is back in sleuthing mode while simultaneously trying to evade another betrothal. Spoilers, beauty does not always make the best match. Matching wit for wit, temper for temper, and the capability to defend oneself, Rosie finally realizes the one she truly wants. Did I mention there are ghosts? Didn’t see that one coming but enjoyed the twist! As well as the strong Dowager Princess, never underestimate the elderly! I definitely recommend reading book number 1 first to get the best grasp, but this is a comical book and I urge people to give it a read!

4.5 ⭐️

This was such a fun YA sequel. The humor, the Shakespeare & iambic pentameter humor is great.

Love that it was left at a spot where the series can continue or it can end there.

Enjoyable listen, will probably get a physical copy (of both) for my shelf.

This is definitely a book my younger self would have devoured.

A fun and fresh reimagining of Shakespeare through a time-bending lens; Italian Renaissance meets modern sass.

Rosaline “Rosie” Montague, daughter of the very much alive Romeo and Juliet, returns in this second historical mystery set in Verona. Recently tricked into an engagement with Prince Escalus the Younger, Rosie’s heart belongs to Lysander. Her hopes for true love seem dashed, until the ghost of Prince Escalus the Elder, begins haunting her. He promises to break her engagement so she can be with Lysander... as long as she agrees to solve his murder. Thus begins an investigation peppered with courtly intrigues, street unrest, and the simmering tension between her fiancé and her true love, accompanied at all times by Rosie's wit and sarcasm.

I was intrigued by the premise of this audiobook, wondering if I might discover a tale with the vibe of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet combined with the sharp, modern humour of 10 Things I Hate About You. I went in expecting something moody, romantic, and modern. The romance and modern elements were definitely there, but instead of something brooding or atmospheric, the tone felt bright and energetic.

The narration was solid, and the narrator clearly talented, but the choice of an American accent kept pulling me out of the story. I found myself questioning whether it suited the tone or setting, and the fact that it distracted me at all suggests it probably didn’t for me.

That said, I really admired the use of language. The blend of contemporary dialogue with Shakespearean flourishes was clever and extremely effective. Being thrown into the midst of the tale with a playful, farcical tone also felt very reminiscent of the bard and the style truly did charm me. The central idea, a continuation or reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, felt believable within the grand emotional sweep of a Shakespearean tragedy.

I went in blind without having read the previous book, which almost definitely affected my connection to the characters.

Ultimately, this wasn’t quite the book for me as a woman in her 30's. I believe I've simply aged out of the target audience. But I imagine it would appeal to younger readers who enjoy romantic retellings with a theatrical twist. I gave it four stars not because it was a perfect fit for me, but because it's smart, original, and really well executed. It could easily be a gateway into Shakespeare for a new generation, which is a lovely thing.

I absolutely LOVED the first book in this series, so I was looking forward to this next installment! I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was absolutely wonderful, with a lively narration, clearly differentiating amongst the characters. I didn't want too stop listening! As with the first, this book isn't only about the family of the famed (but not deceased) Romeo and Juliet, focusing on their eldest daughter Rosie and her prospects for marriage, but also features a murder mystery. WHO murdered the eldest prince? Is the murderer attempting to murder again? I absolutely LOVED Nona Ursula, as she was a feisty and hilarious addition to the tale. The story is hilarious, mysterious, interesting, and sweet while woven with themes of history, Shakespeare, women's autonomy, and family and romantic relationships. I look forward to reading more by this author!